Police Finally Investigating Osawa Bullying Crime

Police are finally investigating the suicide of a 13-year-old boy last year in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, for evidence of bullying, but another father whose son took his own life believes it is too little, too late and doubts the government is taking such tragedies seriously.

“We must be aware that bullying is a crime,” Hideaki Osawa, whose son, Hidetake, killed himself in 1996 after being harassed and extorted by his classmates, stated Friday.

“It is unacceptable for the teachers and the board of education to claim that there wasnt any bullying or that they werent aware of it.”